Ensign Loq: You Shall No More Be Stomachers Of My Heart
Mike Vago
((Science Lab, Deck 2, USS Octavia E Butler))
Loq’s father had warned him about alien women.
He scoffed at the time. Naturally, he respected his father and heeded his wisdom in most respects. But what did he know of alien women? He grew up on Boreth, moved the family to the Hitorah colony when Loq was a child, and served with all-Klingon crews during the war. When would he have gotten entangled with an alien woman?
Certainly not the way Loq had gotten entangled last night. What had come over him? He didn’t drink blood wine to excess, but one of the humans suggested something called oo-zoh, and apparently it’s customary to take small sips, not down a glass of the stuff. Loq wasn’t sure if his crewmates were playing one of their tricks on him or assumed that as a Klingon, his tolerance for alcohol was limitless. He certainly preferred to let them think the latter.
But the stuff that blue girl was pouring. Jalara Fire. Fermented fish oil. Something called a “Screaming Viking.” The rest of the night was a hairless blue blur after that. He dimly remembered the girl saying something about not wanting to hurt him, and he had laughed. She was skinnier than a human, and looked like a targ could knock her down with its bark alone. But now his bones ached, his stomachs churned, and his guts were fighting the kind of battle his ancestors would consider less than glorious.
((Sickbay, Deck 5, USS Octavia E Butler))
“A warrior does not go to sickbay.” Loq could hear his father’s voice scolding him in his head. But a warrior had a duty, and if that girl had poisoned him somehow, the sickness he was feeling would keep him from that duty.
Miash: response
Loq stiffened and tried to protect his wounded pride.
Loq: If I were injured, I would heal in my own time. But I seem to be ill. If I have something contagious, I do not wish to spread it to the rest of the crew. And if I have been poisoned—
Miash: response
Loq: As unlikely as it seems, I was with a young woman last night. She plied me with many kinds of liquor, and I awoke feeling like my stomachs were at war with each other.
Miash: response
Loq: Klingons do not have “too much to drink.” It is humans who are sickened by alcohol, although that rarely stops them from consuming it. This is something else. I wish for you to discover what it is.
Miash: response
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Ensign Qurgh'Loq, son of Qurgh'Lun, House of Konjah
Federation Diplomatic Corps
U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler
O240011Y12